White Gift

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for snow, brides,
egrets, rice.
White is bright,
reflecting light—
clouds,
the insides of radishes and potatoes,
coconut shreds,
vanilla ice cream.

Blessed are You for rabbits
who keep a white coat
without bleach or washing machine,
despite no hands to hold their juicy vegetables.
Me, I can’t keep a blouse white,
but kittens wear white boots
and gulls wear white all down their front,
and they make it look easy.

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe—
though my stains are scarlet
they will be white as snow.
Though my wrongs are crimson
they’ll resemble finest wool.
White is not for me to toil over
but for You to give.